SPRINGFIELD—Seventeen-year-olds throughout Illinois could see expanded voting rights because of legislation Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) is pushing through the Illinois Senate.

House Bill 6167 would allow 17-year-olds throughout the state to vote in the consolidated primary election if they will be 18 by the consolidated election. This is an expansion of the law that allowed 17-year-olds to vote in the general primary election if they were 18 by the general election.

“Local officials make decisions that directly affect the lives of their constituencies. Yet we tell 17-year-olds they don’t get a say in the primaries of their local elections,” Link said. “Many 17-year-olds want to have that say, and we shouldn’t stand in their way.”

The legislation passed the Senate Executive committee and moves to the full Senate for final passage.